Photos of a Man Dragging His Daughter Around Walmart By Her Hair Have Gone Viral

Heartbreaking photos of a father dragging his daughter around a Texas Walmart by her hair have caused outrage across the internet, and law enforcement is now reportedly looking into the case.

The incident came to light after Erika Burch, a customer at Walmart in Cleveland, Texas, saw a man pulling his young daughter alongside his shopping cart by her hair. Buch said that the father had the girl's hair wrapped around the cart handle, as she cried out in pain and begged him to stop.

Burch later wrote on her Facebook page, "She was saying, 'Please stop, I promise I won’t do it again, please stop!'"

Burch immediately took out her phone to document the man's actions before approaching him and asking him to stop. The man told her to "mind her own business," so Burch called the police. A police officer who was already in the Walmart came running, according to Burch, and called his sergeant, who reportedly told Burch that in order for the police to arrest the man for child abuse, the child needed to be physically injured.

"The sergeant in Cleveland, TX said, "He has the right to discipline his children,'" Burch wrote.

Burch shared the photos and story of what happened on her Facebook following the incident, and as of this morning, the post has been shared by over 205,000 Facebook users. See the photos she posted, below:

Cleveland Police Chief Darrel Broussard told the local CBS affiliate that his department is taking the case seriously and has launched an investigation. Broussard said Child Protective Services is also investigating. The Cleveland Police Department posted this message regarding the incident on their Facebook page:

Broussard also said that he appreciates Burch for speaking up when she saw something dangerous unfolding.

"Of course, that old saying, 'if you see something, say something.' In this case, I have to applaud those witnesses who attempted to intervene for the safety of the child," he told the news station.